The Fonda Family: All About the Hollywood Dynasty, From Golden Age Star Henry to Living Legend Jane

Mar. 15, 2025

Peter Fonda, Jane Fonda, Bridget Fonda and Troy Garity inside the “Three Generations of Fonda on Film” benefit on May 13, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia.Photo:Ben Rose/WireImage

Ben Rose/WireImage

The Fonda family is a trueHollywood dynastyincluding three generations of A-list actors and filmmakers, including Henry Fonda,Peter Fonda,Jane Fonda, Bridget Fonda and Troy Garity.

Henry Fonda was a silver screen legend who appeared in movies like12 Angry Men, Once Upon a Time in the WestandThe Grapes of Wrath,for which he earned an Oscar nomination. Henry won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the 1981 filmOn Golden Pond.

Two of his children, Peter Fonda and Jane Fonda,both became Hollywood luminaries. Peter appeared in films likeEasy Rider,The Cannonball RunandUlee’s Gold.He won two Golden Globes and earned two Academy Award nominations over his career. Jane has had star roles in the films9 to 5, Barbarella, Monster-in-LawandBook Club.She’s won two Oscars, one for 1971’sKluteand one for 1978’sComing Home.

Peter, who died in 2019, had two children, Justin Fonda and Bridget Fonda. Justin has worked behind the camera, and Bridget is a now-retired actress who starred in movies includingSingle White FemaleandJackie Brown.

Jane has three children: her daughter Vanessa Vadim is a filmmaker, her son Troy Garity is an actor and her daughter Mary Luana Williams is an author.

Keep reading for everything to know about the Fonda family.

Jane and Peter had a challenging upbringing

Peter Fonda, Henry Fonda, and Jane Fonda at the ANTA Playhouse on December 4, 1969 in New York.Tim Boxer/Getty

Tim Boxer/Getty

“If you have a parent who is not capable of showing up, not capable of reflecting you back through eyes of love, it has abig impact on your sense of self,” Jane told PEOPLE in 2018. “As a child, you always think it was your fault.”

Henry quickly remarried and Jane and Peter continued to struggle in their relationships with their father. Both siblings talked about reconciling their issues with Henry before his 1982 death.

“Before he died I was able to tell him thatI loved himand that I forgave him for, you know, whatever didn’t happen,” Jane said onWho’s Talking to Chris Wallacein 2023. “And I hope that he would forgive me for not being a better daughter … He didn’t say anything. But he wept. I had never seen that before … it was powerful.”

In his 1998 memoirDon’t Tell Dad,Peter talked about how offering his father a role in the 1979 filmWanda Nevadawasa healing experience for the two of them.

“Slowly and choking on the high-powered emotion, he said, ‘I love you very much, son. I want you to know that,' ” Peter wrote in his memoir. “I hugged him so hard, I could feel the pacemaker in his chest. Tears streaming down my own cheeks, I told him I loved him very much,” he continued. “Years of frustration fell off my heart like melting snow sliding off a roof.”

Both Jane and Peter have children

Left: Jane Fonda and Troy Garity at Screen Gems Los Angeles Premiere Party of ‘Burlesque’ on November 15, 2010 in Hollywood, California. Right: Peter Fonda and Bridget Fonda at the American Cinematheque presents “The Hired Hand” on October 22, 2003.HNW/Plux/Shutterstock ; Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock

HNW/Plux/Shutterstock ; Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock

Jane had daughter Vanessa Vadim in 1968 and son Troy Garity in 1973, and adopted daughter Mary Luana “Lulu” Williams in the ’80s. The demands of her film career and her political activism often kept her away from her kids.

“The few things I regret in my life are not the controversy and the activism. But not having put enough time into mothering, wiving, [and] taking care of the inner life,” she told PEOPLE in 2000.

In 2017, she opened up to PEOPLE about how she tried to mend old wounds with time. “I tell my kids ‘I’m sorry,’ for not being more present in their lives at times,” she said.

But looking back at 85,Fonda said she still regrets that time. “I was not the kind of mother that I wished that I had been to my children,” she told PEOPLE in 2023. “I have great, great children — talented, smart. And I just didn’t know how to do it.”

Peter had a daughter, Bridget, in 1964 and a son, Justin, in 1966, with then-wife Susan Brewer. The couple split in 1972, and both kids went to live with their mother. Bridget toldThe New York Timesin 1992 that it created an “abandonment thing” for her, but that in adulthood she got “along with him really well.”

“I grew up around adults who were imaginative and spontaneous, sure, and it was fantastic to go on that ride. I remember going to see my godparents [Larry and Maj Hagman], who lived on Malibu Beach … And my dad would chase me round the tennis court on rollerskates,” she toldThe Guardianin 2000.

“I mean, my dad may have been a hippy biker in the public mind, but he was always a classy, well-turned-out hippy,” Bridget added.

Bridget’s acting has drawn comparisons to her grandfather’s

Peter Fonda and Bridget Fonda as he is honored with the 2,241st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.Hahn Lionel/ABACA/Shutterstock

Hahn Lionel/ABACA/Shutterstock

“She acts in the great tradition of her grandfather, which is less is more,” Barbet Schroeder, director ofSingle White Female, toldThe New York Timesin 1992. “I’ve never known any actor, except maybe Jeremy Irons, who knows so much, who’s such a total pro.”

In the same article, Peter made a distinction between his father’s career and his daughter’s.

“To my father, acting was everything. It was escape; it was therapy,” he said. “Bridget isn’t like that. It’s not compulsive; it’s not out of fear. With her, it’s basically about packing in as many good films as she can, while she can. She just knows what she wants.”

Justin works behind the camera

Peter Fonda, Bridget Fonda, and Justin Fonda.Jim Smeal/BEI/Shutterstock

Jim Smeal/BEI/Shutterstock

Peter’s son Justin appeared in his father’s filmEasy Rideras an uncredited extra, and acted in the 2000 filmBig Eden— but the majority of his work has been behind the camera as a cinematographer.

Justin has worked on movies like 1992’sA River Runs Through Itand 2000’sVertical Limit.

Members of the family have worked together

Peter Fonda and Jane Fonda prepare to board a Greyhound Bus for road trip to San Francisco with other actors to rally Voters to Vote on September 27, 1986 in Los Angeles, California.Bob Riha, Jr./Getty

Bob Riha, Jr./Getty

Peter also put his own young children in his filmEasy Ridermarking their first on-screen appearance.

The collaboration goes beyond the family’s first generation, too. Troy appeared in the 2018 HBO documentary about his mother,Jane Fonda in Five Acts. He alsowalked the red carpet with her for the premiere— his sister, Vanessa, provided photographs for the film.

Troy is an actor

Troy Garity and Jane Fonda attends the premiere of HBO’s “Jane Fonda In Five Acts” on September 13, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

While Jane and then-husband Tom Hayden gave Troy his paternal grandmother’s maiden name so he could avoid the pressure of having a famous family, he ultimately chose a career in the spotlight.

He first appeared inOn Golden Pondin 1981 and has since acted in theBarbershopmovies and the HBO seriesBallerswithDwayne Johnson.

Jane is a dedicated activist

Jane Fonda attends Women in Film’s Annual Award Ceremony at The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.Emma McIntyre/Getty

Emma McIntyre/Getty

Jane has been outspoken about her anti-war stance, her progressive politics and her environmental activism — and even in her 80s, she isn’t stopping.

“I love this planetand want to do everything I can to protect it,” Jane told PEOPLE in 2023. “I get really depressed because I read the science and I know what’s happening and it’s urgent and it could become catastrophic. It’s just inconceivable to me to not do everything that I can.”

Vanessa and Lulu are also passionate activists and have joined Jane at many protests.

“Arrested with my sister @maryisoutside and mother in the Hart Senate Building,” Vanessa captioned a photo onInstagramof her sister Mary being arrested during a “Fire Drill Friday” climate protest in 2019.

Bridget is married to musician Danny Elfman

Danny Elfman and Bridget Fonda at the 88th Annual Academy Awards.Storms Media Group / Alamy

Storms Media Group / Alamy

In 2003, Bridget married composer Danny Elfman, as famous for his soundtracks to movies likeBeetlejuiceandThe Nightmare Before Christmasas he is for his band Oingo Boingo.

Long before she had kids, Bridget knew that she would want to step away from acting when she became a mom. In 1992, she toldThe New York Times that she was thinking about having children, but wasn’t in a rush. “When it happens, I want to be able to put away movies for a long while and be satisfied with that,” she said.

Peter died in 2019

Peter Fonda speaks on stage during AFI Fest’s Los Angeles premiere of The Ballad Of Lefty Brown on November 14, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.Randy Shropshire/Getty

Randy Shropshire/Getty

In 2019, at age 79, Peterdied of complications from lung cancer. “While we mourn the loss of this sweet and gracious man, we also wish for all to celebrate his indomitable spirit and love of life. In honor of Peter, please raise a glass to freedom,” the family shared in a statement to PEOPLE.

Just before he died, Peter filmedThe Last Full Measurewith Diane Ladd. “Peter was a friend, a wonderful actor, and a great humanitarian,” the actress told PEOPLE. “He rang a bell for culture.He will indeed be missed.”

Jane told PEOPLE that in Peter’s last days, the siblings were able tospend some special time together. “I have had beautiful alone time with him these last days,” she said. “He went out laughing.”

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go tosuicidepreventionlifeline.org.

source: people.com